LAHAD DATU, Sept 4 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) chief Datuk Hazani Ghazali today called on the maritime community, particularly fishermen to immediately report anything suspicious seen in Malaysian waters.
This will enable the authorities to take appropriate action, he said, referring to the shooting incident that took place in the Felda Sahabat waters yesterday.
He said he had been informed that the community in the area did indeed observe that the suspects in the incident had been hovering in the waters for several days but failed to inform security forces, particularly ESSCOM about this.
“After the incident occurred, then only were they brave enough to inform …”, he said at a press conference held at the Lahad Datu district police headquarters, adding that communities represented the eyes and ears of security forces and should not hesitate to alert the authorities.
In the incident which occurred at 11pm last night, a police patrol unit shot dead two men whom they believed were intending to commit a crime.
The team which had been patrolling the area, had come across a speed boat carrying the two men, as well as another speed boat, after which a chase ensued with the intruders shooting at the team which then returned fire.
The second boat escaped and was seen heading towards the Philippines.
–NNN-BERNAMA